Combined gas producer and boiler



Nm1f.1,1921'.` 1,647,739`

V. D. MDONNELL COMBINED GAS PRODUCER AND BOILER Filed June 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. l, 1927.`

1,647,739 v. D. McDoNNELL COMBINED GAS PRODUCER AND BOILER Filed June 25. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

'VINCENT I). MCDONNELL. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED GAS PRODUCER AND BOILER.

Application filed Junc25, 1924.

My invention relates to a combined gas producer and boiler wherein a combustible gas is produced troni carbon or water and carbon and tht` heatradiating trom the generator or producer. as well as the gas produced. employed tor heating the water of the boiler. either I'oi` steam generation l'or power or heating purposes: or `for the heati ug ot water to be emploved iu a hot water heating system: or for heating the air ol a hot air it'urnace: the object ot the invention being to provide apparatus wherein continuous gas generation may be carried on and an economical heating' s vstem provided.

Another object of niv invention is to provide a construction in the nature ol' a practically smokeless boiler. having greater etliciency than is the case with boilers as heretofore constructed: wherein practically all of the heat units will be utilized in steam generation, or water or air heating. The objects and advantages o't' my invention will all be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompan'ving' drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a. partial .sectional View and elevation of my improved apparatus as applied to a heating` system.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view. with portions broken away.

Figure 3 is a partial elevation and sectional view, illustrating the adaptation of the inventiom as a hot air furnace.

In the cxemplilication of the invention as disclosed in Figure 1, Where it is shown as a Water heating system, the invention comprises a suitable shell or wall 10 which is internally provided with a. wall 11 of suitable refractory material to constitute the fire-pot portion oi the apparatus; the Wall 11 being preferably maintained in slight spaced relation with the metallic shell and the intervening space is filled with sand as at 12 in order to compensate for the dit- :terences in expansion and contraction. The wall or shell 10 may be secured to an annular member 13 which may also support the grate 14. The member 13 may bc open at the lower side, namely in a plane beneath the plane of the grate 14, and is provided with a plurality et ports or openings 15. The wall 10 is surrounded by a shell er Wall 16 ofdiameter sutiicient to provide a chamber Serial No. 722,322.

between tbe` shells or walls 10 and 16, to constitute a vapor generating and superheating chamber; and the shell 16 extends to a point sutlieiently beneath the grate 14 and is provided with a bottom 1T to provide an ash receiving chamber beneath the grate.

The shell or wall l() is provided with a spirallv arranged trough 1S extending from a point adjacent the upper end of the irepot portion ot the generator, to a point adjacent to the ports 15: the trough, by preference. being substantially V--shape in crosssection so as to convey the water in a circuitous or spiral manner about the Vall of the lirespot and in intimate relation with the shell 10.

Disposed about the shell 16 and in spaced relation therewith is a thirl metallic shell or wall 19. which extends throughout the height ot the apparatus and constitutes the main supporting wall ot the apparatus; the wall 19 extends beneath the lower end of wall 16 to the floor, where it is provided with a bottom 20. The bottom 2() is in spaced relation with the bottom 17 ot shell 16 so as to provide a gas and precipitating chamber, which is preferably provided with a clean-out door 21 ot a construction Whereby a gas-tight closure may be obtained. The i wall or shell 10. at its upper end, is maintained in spaced relation with vthe Wall or shell 16 in a suitable manner, as at 22, so as to provide a tight closure for the upper end ol the vaporizing chamber.

The inner upper end of the shell 19 is providedwith a suitable lining or cast iron ring 23, which rests on lining 11 and the connecting wall 22: the ring 23 being tapered somewhat in the nature of a funnel to guide the fuel into the tire-pot and also prevent it. falling into the gas passage or chamber 24.-. The lower tapered end of ring 23 extends sligbtlv beneath the upper end of the refractory lining 11, in slight spaced relation therewith to provide an annular passage 25 from the upper end of the lire-pot, communicating with the gas chamber 24; the ring 28 being provided with spaced lugs or legs for supporting the ring in place and to permit gas passage therebeneath.

The main shell or wall 19 is surrounded by a shell 26 which is provided with a bottom 27 which is suitably secured in gas-tight relation with the shell 19 and by reference at a point above the bottom of tie gas receiving and precipitate chamber at the bottom of the apparatus. The shell 26 extends to the top of the apparatus and is secured to the top 28, which preferably constitutes the top for the entire apparatus. The top A28 at a point preferably centrally ofvthe f shells 19 and 26, and at a slight distance removed from the outer bottom 27, is provided with an inner bottom or partition 35. The chamber formed by shells 19 and 26 and the partitions 32 and 35, inthe exempliiication of the invention shown in Figure 1, is intended to constitute a waterreceiving chamber.

Disposed in circumferential spaced relation throughout the water chamber, between partitions 32 and'35, so as to effect communication between'the chamber 33 above partition 32 and the chamber 36 beneath partition 35, are a series of vertical iiues 37 `(see Figure 2).

The chamber 36 is provided with a continuous or plurality of gas burners 38, mounted above the bottom 27 of the chamber; as for example by providinof a diaphragm 39 having openings in willich the inlet ends of the burners are secured. The bottom 27, ofthe gas receiving chamber 36 at-points in alignment with the openings in the diaphragm 39, is provided with air admitting tubes 39EL which cnnect with a central point in the bottom of each burner 38;

the tube 39- being of smaller diameter than.

the diameter of the openingin the diaphragm 39 so as to permit the gas to pass through the opening in the diaphragm about the tubes 39a and to commingle with the air within the burner 38. The tubes 39"L communicate with the atmosphere beneath the bottom 27.

The gasereceiving chamber at. the bottom of the apparatus is provided with an outlet or take-oft' conduit 40 which preferably connects with the casing 41 of a suitable fan whereby the produced gas is withdrawn from the chamber and conveyed by connection 42 into the lower end of the chamber 36 beneath the diaphragm 39; the fan being operated in any suitable manner, as for eX- ample by amotor generally lindicated at 43.

- burners The apparatus is provided with a suitable sight-feed nozzle or conduit 44, which extends through the shells 26, 19 and 16 and intermediate of two'of the lues 37, for the purpose of introducing minute quantities of water to the upper end of the spirally arranged trough 18; the conduit 44 being intended to communicate with a suitable source of water supply.

In operation, the fuel receiving portion or magazine of the apparatus is filled with a suitable carbonaceous fuel,-such as anthracite coal, coke, peat, or any fuel provided with a preponderance of carbon,-through the dome until the fire-pot is supplied. The

fuel isfthen ignited in the ire-pot-access being provided b a suitable door as at 45, which is provide with air admitting openings controlled in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the well known type of yrotating shutter as generally indicated at 45tL in Figure 3. As soon as the fuel on the grate and the inner walls of the apparatus are brought to incandescent heat, water in' minute -quantity is then allowed to How through nozzle 44 and be discharged into the upper end of the spiral trough 13.` The minute stream of water flowing downward in the spiral trough in intimate relation with the metallic wall or shell 10A isv progressively subjected to an increasing temperature which causes it to be vaporized and brought to a substantiallyl dry state or superheated steam. The superheated steam is then evenly distributed throughout the bottom of the grate by the plurality of ports 15, and complete gasification takes place upon contact with and during passage through the incandescent carbon, and combustion in the tire-pot maintained mainly through the oxygen derived .from the Water.

The gas produced passes from theiire-pot of the apparatus, .through the annular passage 25, into chamber 24, and down into the chamber beneath the inner bottom 17, Where any impurities carried by the gas are precipitated. The gas is withdrawn from this chamber through conduit 40 by means of thefan in casing 41 and discharged into the chamber 36 with which the, burner or communicate. The gas issuing from the burners is:y ignited, causing the waterv in the water chamber above to be heated; the burnt gases and hot fumes passing upward through the flues 37 and thus assisting in the rapid heating of the water. Theburnt gases and fumes issuing from the iiues 37 enter the top chamber 33 and are conveyed therefrom by the outlet or Hue 34 which is intended to be connected with a chimney.

Where the apparatus is to be employed in connection with a hot Water or steam heating system, the upper end of the water heating chamber is provided'with an outlet conlll duit 46, which may be provided with suitable branch lilies leading to the different radiators, as at 47, in Figure l; and the different radiators in turn provided with return lines connected with the return conduit 48 which connects with the lower end of the water-heating chamber.

lWhere the apliaralus is to be employed for generating steam for power purposes, the conduit 40 constitutes the steam line; while conduit 48 may be employed as a water feed line for the water chamber or steam generating portion of thefboiler.

ln .Figure 3, .l have'shown in v apparatus adapted as a hot-air Jfurnace; the construe tion being substantially similar to the construction heretofore described, except that the chamber intermediate of the walls or shells 1f)a and 26 instead of being filled with water, is intended to receive air by means of cold air-conduit 49; while the heated air is conveyed to the various registers or portions of the building by the hot air conduits 5() leading from the upper end of the chamber.

Vhere the apparatus is employed for heating water, the bottom of the water chamber is preferably provided with a suitable draw-otf cock or drain as at 5l in Figure 1. Y

My invention provides a substantially smokeless boiler; namely a gas producing generator and boiler or heater combined, of great thermal eliiciency, whereby practically all of the heat units are utilized; and a great saving in fuel as well as of labor and attention obtained; the exemplifications of the invention having been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation; as structural modifications are possible and may be made without` however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

That I claim is:

1. A combined gas producer and boiler, comprising a fuel holding and gas producing portion, a plurality of chambers encircling said portion, the inner chamber being closed at the top and provided with `a plurality of ports in the bottom communicating with the gas producing portion beneath the grate-bars thereof, said chamber 'constituting a vapor generating chamber, a second chamber surrounding the vaporizing chamber and communicating at top with the upper part ofthe producing portion to receive the generated gas therefrom, a third chamber, disposed about the second mentioned chamber, adapted to receive the medium to be heated. said third chamber being provided with an inlet and an outlet for said medium adjacent to the bottom and to the y top, respectively, gas burners arranged in the lower end of the third mentioned chamber, and means whereby the generated gas is conveyed from the second mentioned chamber to said burners,

2. combined gas producer and boiler, comprising a fuel holding and producing portion, closed at top and bottom, a chamber encircling the producer portion and provided with a spirally arranged trough on the wall of theproducer portion, said chamber being closed at top and provided with a plurality of port-s in the bottom con'nnunitalting with the generating portion beneath the grate-bars thereof, means for introducing regulable quantities of water 'into said trough at the upper end thereof, a second chamber disposed about the first mentioned chamber, extending beneath the generating portion and having communica tion at top with said generating portion to receive the generated gas therefrom, a third chamber. disposed about the second chamber, provided with inlet and outlet conduits adjacent the bottom and top of said chamber for introducing the medium to be heated and for conveying the heated medium therefrom, gas burners arranged in the third mentioned chamber, and means for conveying the produced gas from the second mentioned chamber to said burners.

3. A combined gas producer and boiler, ctm'iprising a fuel holding and gas generating portion provided with grate-bars in the bottom, said generating portion being closed at top and bottom, a chamber arranged in the wall of the gas producing portion and provided with a spiral trough terminating at a point adjacent to the grate-bars of the gas producing portion, said chamber being closed at top and provided with ports in the bottom adapted to communicate with the gas producing portion beneath the gratebars thereof, means for introducing 4regulable quantities of water into said trough, a chamber disposed about said first mentioned chamber and extending beneath the `bottom of the producer portion, said chamber being open at top and communicating with said producer portion to receive the generated gas therefrom, aV third chamber disposed about the second mentioned chamber and provided with diaphragms in the upper and' lower ends of said chamber, a plurality of flues -disposed between the diaphragms, burners arranged beneath the lower diaphragm in said third chamber, inlet and` outlet conduits for introducing and withdrawing the medium to be heated in saidl third mentioned chamber, 'and means for withdrawing the generated gas from the second mentioned chamber and for conveying t-he same to said burners.

4. A combined gas producer and boiler, comprising a fuel holding and gas generat- IUI) ing portion, composed of an inner wall of refractory material and a metallic shell dlsi posed" thereabout in spaced relation thereregulable quantities of water intosaid spiral trough, means for conveying the heated vapor in minute jets from said chamber `into the generating portion beneath the gratebars thereof, a second. metallic shell arranged in spaced relation with the first mentioned shell to provide a gas receiving cham- -ber communicating at top with the generating portion, a third metallic shell disposed about the second mentioned shell in spaced relation therewith to provide a medium heating chamber, said last mentioned chamber being provided with burners inthe lower end thereof and with a fume conveying outlet.in the `upper end thereof, said last men-v tioned chamber being provided with a dia-v phragm adjacent to the top beneath the fume conveying outlet and with a diaphragm adjacent to the bottom above said burners, a plurality of fluesv arranged between said diaphragms for conveying the fumes from the burners through said last mentioned chamber to the fume conveying outlet, means for conveying the generated gases from the second mentioned chamber to said burners, and means whereby circulation in the third mentionedchamber of the medium to be heated is permitted.

5. A combined gas producer and boiler, comprising a 'generating portion closed at top and bottom and having a grate-bar above the bottom, a closed chamber, disposed, about the generating portion, provided with a plurality of p orts in the bottom communicating with the generating portion beneath the grate-bars thereof, said closed chamber being provided with aspiral trough, means for introducing regulable quantities of water into said trough, a second chamber, disposed` about the first mentioned chamber, closed at bottom andv communicating at top with the generating porvtion to receive the generated gases, a chamber disposed about the last mentioned chamber and provided with an inner'bottom .in spaced relation with'the outer bottom thereof, gas burners arrangedthroughout said last mentioned chamber beneath the inner bottom, a plurality of vertically' disposed flues extending upwardly from the inner bottcm, a chamber communicating with all of said flues and provided with an outlet, means for withdrawing the gases from the second mentioned chamber and for conveying the same to smd burners, and conduits com.-

municating with the third mentioned chamber intermediate of the upper and lower ends thereof for inducing circulation of the ing portion, means for introducing regulable quantities of water into said vapori'zing chamber, a chamber encircling the Vaporizing chamber, closed at bottom and open at top to the gas generating portion to receive the generated gas, a third chamber encircling the gas receiving chamber, said last mentioned chamber being provided with diaphragms adjacent to the top and adjacent to the bottom whereby said chamber is divided into a burnt gas vor fume receiving compartment at top, a gas burner compartment at bottom and a water or air receiving compartment intermediate of the diaphragms, a plurality of flues connected` at :the ends in said diaphragms for conveying the burnt gases from the burner compart` ment,I through the water or air compartment to the burnt gas chamber, inlet and outlet conduits for the water orr`air compartment, means for draining said compartment, and means communicating with the gasirecciving chamber and with the burner compartment whereby the generated gas is withdrawn from said chamber and conveyed into said compartment.

7. A combined gas producer and boiler, comprising a {ire-pot portion, a water vaporizing chamber, disposed about the fire-pot portion, closed at top and adaptedto discharge the vapor in small jets Vbeneath 'the grate of the fire-pot portion, an outer encircling chamber` provided with a burner holding compartment .and with a plurality of burnt gas conveying tubes extending lengthwise of said chamber, a burnt gas receiving compartment at the upper end of said outer chamber, common to all of said tubes, means vwhereby the generated gas is conveyed from the fire-pot porti-on to the burner holdingv compartment, and means for introducing and withdrawing the medium to be heated to and from the outer chamber.-

8. A combined gas producer and boiler comprising a gas roducing portion, a vapor generating cham er surrounding the gas producing portion whereby a superheated v'vapor is provided, means for conveying the superheated vapor from the bottom of said chamber into the bottom -of the gas producing portion, a medium heating chamber disposed about said irst mentioned chamber, gas burners beneath said medium heating chamber, burnt gas conveying fines, disposed upwardly through said medium heating chamber, and means for conveying the generated gas to said burners.

9. A combined gas producer and boiler comprlsmg a gas producing portion, a. vapor gener-nung port1on dlsposed about the gas producing portion, whereby a superheated vapor is provided, said second portion communicating `at its bottom with the bottom of vthe as roducin ortion a as conve in. l0 g P p 1 g y by the gas is Withdrawn from the gas cham- 15 ber andvconveyed to the gas burners.

VINCENT D. MCDONNELL. 

